January 6th. The most auspicious day in the calender of the Indian music industry. This is the day which saw the birth of a true music genius exactly 40 years back. Well, by now u might have guessed whom I'm talking about. Yes, u guessed it right. Its music maestro A.R.Rahman....the isai puyal. This is easily one of the most widely celebrated birthdays in Indian musicdom. Now, any discussion on him cannot be limited to India alone. Because he is a global phenomenon, an artist unparalleled whether you go by the mammoth album sales or the sheer versatality of his compositions. And these are still early days in his international career.
The year went by can be termed as brilliant if you go by his compositions and as mixed if the album sales are taken into account. But, really who cares for album sales? The first release from him this year was the under-rated but path breaking Subhas Chandra Bose. An album so different from the run of the mill stuff seen nowadays in bollywood. The BGMs were really international in quality. "Aazadi", the freedom cry from ARR was inspiring. "Desh Ki mitti" and "Ekla chalo" brought out Sonu Nigam's versatality.
Next in line from ARR this year was Mangal Pandey, which was a failure commercially. But it had some notable tracks like the soulful "Mangal Mangal", the mujhra "Main vari Vari" and the devotional "Maula". Also, there was "Raziya" with the unmistakable Persian touch. Kailash Kher's voice was the highlight of this album. Th market song "Takey Takey" is real fun to liten.
The next album "Aa Aah" was in Tamil. It was a success commercially. The title song announced ARR's return to tamil in top form. But it was somewhat spolied by inept picturisation. "Mayiliragae" was amazingly melodious and became a rage with the people. Then he gave the remix gurus some lessons in remixing through Mayiliragae's remix "Maramkothiye". This was a classic example of how you could remix a track with more creative input than just adding beats mindlessly to the original song. Hariharan's "Varugiraal" was really rocking. SPB and Shreya mouthed a few titillating lyrics in "Thazhuvudhu". Now comes the highlight of the year- the classic "Water". This is the album the maestro himself rated as 10/10. Well, just by listening once, you could understand why he rated it so high. I donot consider myself worthy enough to even pass a comment on the songs of this album. Rather, I would prefer to give a grand salute to the master for giving such a masterpiece to the impoverished Bollywood music industry. Each song is a gem. If I attempt reviewing any of the songs, I'll surely run out of adjectives.
ARR signed out the year with a bang with the release of "Rang De Basanti". This was a big bang indeed, if ever there was any. Or else how could you describe the sheer vareity of genres that he touched upon with this single album. Let me give u a quick overview of all the tracks. There's the 'Bhangra' title song, the 'Romantic' "Tu Bin Bataye", 'Arabic' "Khalbali", a brooding "Khoon Chala", a song of mother- son love " Lukka Chuppi" and 'a prayer' "Ik Onkar". Then there is the war cry "Lalkaar", a youthful and rockish "Paathshala", the rap "Be a Rebel" and last but not the least the easy listening acoustic delight "Roobaroo". Well, Have you heard of any more genres of music other than this" That too in a single album? Then, this is ARR for you. A fitting end to another landmark year.
ARR's 3rd dimension world tour caught the fancy of a large international audience. He blazed the stages in London, Birmingham, Singapore, Melbourne etc. and our own Bangalore(or Bengaluru). His charity concert for the Tsunami victims at Karaikal was a warm gesture on his part. The images of the innocent kids dancing to his tunes beside a 'calm' seashore will forever remain fresh in memory. 'The Poverty anthem' composed by him was unveiled at a concert in Delhi. But most of the fans, including me, still havn't heard it. Hopefully in 2006 we can hear it. Another notable happening this year was the opening of a state of the art studio named Shafee studio 5(AM studios) at Chennai. Its being touted as one of its kind and one of the largest in Asia.
What more can a fan of A.R.Rahman ask for in a single year. Yes, there were some delayed projects, most notably Godfather. But there is always another year, and 2006 is gonna be a truly rocking year for him as "Lord Of The Rings" is going to get released. Then there 's the ambitious "Sivaji" with Shankar and Rajnikanth. Another notable one is Kamal Haasan's "Dasavathaaram". Many more prestigious projects are in his kitty right now. Lets hope for a glorious 2006 when many more classics flow out from the legend that is A.R.RAHMAN.
Wait for a better year end review next year......Until then its rooooooobarooooo........roshniiiiiiiiiiiii
Once more, HAPPY BIRTHDAY A.R.RAHMAN.
LONG LIVE ARR, LONG LIVE MUSIC...........
Join A.R.Rahman fansgroup -http:\\groups.yahoo.com\group\arrahmanfans
For the most uptodate info on ARR, visit- http://www.rahmania.net/
With love, Your crusader Praveen
The year went by can be termed as brilliant if you go by his compositions and as mixed if the album sales are taken into account. But, really who cares for album sales? The first release from him this year was the under-rated but path breaking Subhas Chandra Bose. An album so different from the run of the mill stuff seen nowadays in bollywood. The BGMs were really international in quality. "Aazadi", the freedom cry from ARR was inspiring. "Desh Ki mitti" and "Ekla chalo" brought out Sonu Nigam's versatality.
Next in line from ARR this year was Mangal Pandey, which was a failure commercially. But it had some notable tracks like the soulful "Mangal Mangal", the mujhra "Main vari Vari" and the devotional "Maula". Also, there was "Raziya" with the unmistakable Persian touch. Kailash Kher's voice was the highlight of this album. Th market song "Takey Takey" is real fun to liten.
The next album "Aa Aah" was in Tamil. It was a success commercially. The title song announced ARR's return to tamil in top form. But it was somewhat spolied by inept picturisation. "Mayiliragae" was amazingly melodious and became a rage with the people. Then he gave the remix gurus some lessons in remixing through Mayiliragae's remix "Maramkothiye". This was a classic example of how you could remix a track with more creative input than just adding beats mindlessly to the original song. Hariharan's "Varugiraal" was really rocking. SPB and Shreya mouthed a few titillating lyrics in "Thazhuvudhu". Now comes the highlight of the year- the classic "Water". This is the album the maestro himself rated as 10/10. Well, just by listening once, you could understand why he rated it so high. I donot consider myself worthy enough to even pass a comment on the songs of this album. Rather, I would prefer to give a grand salute to the master for giving such a masterpiece to the impoverished Bollywood music industry. Each song is a gem. If I attempt reviewing any of the songs, I'll surely run out of adjectives.
ARR signed out the year with a bang with the release of "Rang De Basanti". This was a big bang indeed, if ever there was any. Or else how could you describe the sheer vareity of genres that he touched upon with this single album. Let me give u a quick overview of all the tracks. There's the 'Bhangra' title song, the 'Romantic' "Tu Bin Bataye", 'Arabic' "Khalbali", a brooding "Khoon Chala", a song of mother- son love " Lukka Chuppi" and 'a prayer' "Ik Onkar". Then there is the war cry "Lalkaar", a youthful and rockish "Paathshala", the rap "Be a Rebel" and last but not the least the easy listening acoustic delight "Roobaroo". Well, Have you heard of any more genres of music other than this" That too in a single album? Then, this is ARR for you. A fitting end to another landmark year.
ARR's 3rd dimension world tour caught the fancy of a large international audience. He blazed the stages in London, Birmingham, Singapore, Melbourne etc. and our own Bangalore(or Bengaluru). His charity concert for the Tsunami victims at Karaikal was a warm gesture on his part. The images of the innocent kids dancing to his tunes beside a 'calm' seashore will forever remain fresh in memory. 'The Poverty anthem' composed by him was unveiled at a concert in Delhi. But most of the fans, including me, still havn't heard it. Hopefully in 2006 we can hear it. Another notable happening this year was the opening of a state of the art studio named Shafee studio 5(AM studios) at Chennai. Its being touted as one of its kind and one of the largest in Asia.
What more can a fan of A.R.Rahman ask for in a single year. Yes, there were some delayed projects, most notably Godfather. But there is always another year, and 2006 is gonna be a truly rocking year for him as "Lord Of The Rings" is going to get released. Then there 's the ambitious "Sivaji" with Shankar and Rajnikanth. Another notable one is Kamal Haasan's "Dasavathaaram". Many more prestigious projects are in his kitty right now. Lets hope for a glorious 2006 when many more classics flow out from the legend that is A.R.RAHMAN.
Wait for a better year end review next year......Until then its rooooooobarooooo........roshniiiiiiiiiiiii
Once more, HAPPY BIRTHDAY A.R.RAHMAN.
LONG LIVE ARR, LONG LIVE MUSIC...........
Join A.R.Rahman fansgroup -http:\\groups.yahoo.com\group\arrahmanfans
For the most uptodate info on ARR, visit- http://www.rahmania.net/
With love, Your crusader Praveen
7 comments:
hi,
nice roundup on ARR's career track in 2005. You have covered almost everything.
Nice summary,
I have the following comments;
1. No BLAZEE pls... I think its about time blazee finds a more suitable job. Compared to rahmans songs blazee's Rap is just too cheap and ugly! Rahman ruined many of his latest peppy songs cause of blazee... compare to YSR's Raps, more apt! Hearing Blazee has sung in shivaji, I made my mid up rahman is messing up Shivaji BIG TIME!
2 Quality wise rahman is the King. But as true rahman fans we need to see mass and class.. not just class, we need a commercial HIT, no matter how bad the album is!
3. Rahman needs to choose movies with caution, and 2006 Tamil seems to ba a wonderful promise, hoping it lies up to it.
As ARR fan 2005 is the year I want to forget, ARR comprehensively beaten in the tamil music scene despite A AA being good.
Its about time we write a petition to ARR to dump blazee and stop using cheap meaningless, nauseating Rap in his otherwise wondeful compositions.
Would you like to Initiate this?
Nice summary,
I have the following comments;
1. No BLAZEE pls... I think its about time blazee finds a more suitable job. Compared to rahmans songs blazee's Rap is just too cheap and ugly! Rahman ruined many of his latest peppy songs cause of blazee... compare to YSR's Raps, more apt! Hearing Blazee has sung in shivaji, I made my mid up rahman is messing up Shivaji BIG TIME!
2 Quality wise rahman is the King. But as true rahman fans we need to see mass and class.. not just class, we need a commercial HIT, no matter how bad the album is!
3. Rahman needs to choose movies with caution, and 2006 Tamil seems to ba a wonderful promise, hoping it lies up to it.
As ARR fan 2005 is the year I want to forget, ARR comprehensively beaten in the tamil music scene despite A AA being good.
Its about time we write a petition to ARR to dump blazee and stop using cheap meaningless, nauseating Rap in his otherwise wondeful compositions.
Would you like to Initiate this?
Hi Praveen,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I was disappointed to see Water not figure in your review. Water is ARR's best album of 2005 though nobody has listened to it much I feel such a shame. Please listen to it a couple of times and you might agree with me !
Good luck buddy
Navin
Hey navin....plz chkout tht article more thorughly .....i've given my best comments for water....& i do consider it one of his best of alltime...
hi Praveen!! ya!! u were right!! we share almost the same interests..Matrix, bryan adams, lotr, rahman, shawshank n much more..
Nice article about Rahman...Hey!! i know someone who is almost as crazy as u r about Rahman..i guess u'd find his blog interesting
his url is:
http://arrahmaniac.blogspot.com
i luv "Water".
"Shyam Rang Mein" is very lovely composition. Along with "Chanchan".
Thumbs Up for ARR.
That doesn't mean i don't luv anything else.
You don't want me to reiterate that Rahman is a Creative Genius.
He's Simply Gr8.
Post a Comment